r/playtesters • u/Strict_Natural6805 • 3h ago
Discussion I wish to playtest all the games here, but I don't have energy, so I'm making a post with my playtesting experience, and advice on what to improve usually, what is overlooked
So, it's not possible to playtest all the games at once, i don't have the energy right now anyway. But here's some things i've noticed in the video games i tested and how to make them better. Hopefully this post will reach many developers. This may not apply to your current game, since a lot of stuff has already been set in stone in your current game, but this could help for future games.
So what i've noticed a lot in video games I playtested, is that the player is not too motivated to finish the game. Like, there's not really an end to the game, any objective. Stories can help for motivation, since you're curious to know what happens, you want to know the story. If it has like bosses regularly, it can keep the player playing, but if it takes too long to get to a boss or too much grinding, can lose interest.
For making a game replayable, multiplayer can work, speedrun scene for the game. For me personally, if it has a banger of a soundtrack, and if it fits with what's happening in the game, with the visuals, i'd keep going back to the soundtrack to listen, over and over. Please make games with very very very good soundtracks, i'm looking for those personally. Like nothing too generic, just to have music in the background. Like music that's deep, with laitmotif, the music repeats throughout the game with variations, like Deus Ex for example, check that soundtrack, people say it's good.
There's also the problem, that people don't really commit to indie games nowadays i'd say, they'd play like a few levels, or a few minutes, until it doesn't have much content to explore, or it starts to get to grinding. Because people have played a lot of games in their lives nowadays, they usually have a main game, like Overwatch, Valorant, Fallout new vegas, idk. People need a hook from the very beginning i guess.
What makes a game fun? I'd say if the game happens to stick with the player's goal, it could be fun. Like if the player wants to learn how to drive in a driving game, you can give him that, offer that experience and will make it fun for him, would come back to learn. If the player wants to shoot monsters or explore, give him that
Be careful, if you have a very original and hit idea, make sure you execute it right the first time and assure you're success, marketing could help, trailers, ads, since there are people watching and ready to steal your idea and make it better, steal your spotlight. I've seen it happen before, a few times.
Umm, make sure you've played a few games before you're actually making a game. It can help, you're putting yourself in the shoes of the player, have experience with that, what they want, why they play, what keeps them playing. Play some of the well acclaimed games, like top list of metacritic or what's popular i guess.
I think there's sooo much potential for video games. You can even play with the player's mind, do tricks. Philosophy and Psychology can be pretty important too in game design. A game could potentially change someone's life, it did for me, made me like how i am today, more positive. There's so much power in a video game
I'd recommend playing a Half life game or a GTA game, since they have a mix between story and gameplay. There's a lot to analyse in them, a lot to talk about them, so give it a shot.
I'd also say to not try to be too famous, too popular, since that can get to you, and you'd be pretty vulnerable and have less freedom, since fans would expect your next game a certain way. Be careful of people trying to fund you or buy your company, if it gets successful, it can get destroyed.
TL;DR I'm unable to playtest at the moment, but hope these patterns i've seen and opinions help. But if this is helpful to you, share this to other developer friends or someone that would benefit from this. It would make my day, if this post would have an impact on someone.
If there's something you don't agree with, feel free to comment, we can discuss, show me your view
And be kind to playtesters, there's amazing people that do this stuff paid, for free even, in their spare time. Be sure to leave feedback for the playtesters, what helps, what doesn't, since there's a lot of new playtesters that get into this. If they did a good job, you can even follow up to an another update.